CHAPTER 8 – MPUMALANGAPROVINCE Introduction

Introduction

CHAPTER 8 – MPUMALANGAPROVINCE

Water services delivery is performed by nineteen (19) Water Services Authorities in Mpumalanga via 80 drinking water supply systems.

Provincial Blue Drop Score 56.50%

A total design capacity of 661 is available for drinking water supply in MpumalangaProvince, distributed across 80 supply systems. Operational data is not available for all systems, however the existing data indicates average operating capacities between 71 and 118%. This result in an average output volume (final water) of 502 Ml/day.

Provincial Best Performer

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality is the best performing municipality in Mpumalanga Province:



96.60% Municipal Blue Drop Score

MICRO SIZE
SMALL SIZE
MEDIUM SIZE
LARGE SIZE
MACRO

SIZE

Undeter-

mined
Total
<0.5

Mℓ/day

0.5-2

Mℓ/day

2-10

Mℓ/day

<10-25

Mℓ/day

>25

Mℓ/day

No of Water Supply Systems System Design Volume (Mℓ/day)
Average

6

19

25

7

8

159

NI
80

1.8

27.3

104.7

109.0

416.0

660.7

Operating

118.2

2.2
71.3 19.5
77.3 81.1
83.4 90.9

71.5

NI

NI
75.9
Capacity (%) Output volume

(Mℓ/day)

297.4

501.5

N/A = Not Applicable NI = No Information

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Provincial Blue Drop Analysis

Analysis of the Blue Drop assessments and site inspection results indicate that performance vary from excellent to unsatisfactory. A total of 100% municipalities were assessed during the 2010/11 Blue Drop Certification.

BLUE DROP COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Performance

Performance Category

2009

2010

2011

trend

Incentive-based indicators

8 (of 21) (38.0%)
14 (of 21 )
(66.7%)
19 (of 21) (90.47%)

Number of municipalities assessed

↑

Number of water systems assessed Number of Blue Drop scores ≥50% Number of Blue Drop scores <50% Number of Blue Drop awards

35

78

80

↑↑↑↑↑

19
(54.28%)
16
(45.71%)
24
(30.7%)
54
44
(55%)
36

(45%)

(69.23%)

3

6

8

PROVINCIAL BLUE DROP SCORE

51%

65.42%

56.50%

N/A = Not applied

↑ = improvement, ↓ = digress, → = no change

Most of the Mpumalanga municipalities is committed to the Blue Drop process, in an effort to raise the drinking water quality and reliability of supply to all consumers. The incentive-based regulatory approach act as a positive stimulus to facilitate improved performance and public accountability, whilst establishing essential systems and

Trend Analysis: Provincial Blue Drop

processes to sustain and measure

Score – Years 2009 to 2011

gradual improvement. The trends analysis indicate that Mpumalanga is not quite on par with their provincial objectives to ensure continued improvement, as can be seen from the drop in provincial score from 65.4 to 56.5%. Renewed effort and resources will have to be applied to turn around this undesirable trend.

On a positive note, the overall appearance looks positive, as can be seen by the increased number of Blue Drops in the province, as a reflection of prominent centres of excellence in this Province. In addition, the number of systems that achieve >50% Blue drop status has also increased. However, the most significant statistic is the Provincial Blue Drop Score of 56.5%, which place Mpumalanga amongst the lower performing provinces on the national Performance Log.

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When comparing 2011 Blue Drop results with 2009 and 2010, the following trends are observed:



80 systems are assessed in 2011 compare to only 35 (2009) and 78 (2010) 8 systems achieved Blue Drop Certification, compared to 6 (2010) and 3 (2009) 0% systems scored between 0-33% in 2010, which eliminate critical systems from the Mpumalanga performance log

×

37.5% of all systems are now in critical condition compared to 60% (2010), which is a progressive improvement.

Readers need to be mindful that Blue Drop Certification follows a regulation strategy that facilitates gradual and sustainable improvement.... Thereby, Blue Drop requirements become more stringent with every assessment cycle. Municipalities who merely ‘maintained’ their water on same levels year in and out, is likely to achieve reduced Blue Drop scores, whilst municipalities that drive ‘continuous’ improvement, are likely to be awarded with improved Blue Drop scores with each assessment cycle.

Conclusion

The Blue Drop results for 2011 indicate that municipal drinking water quality management in Mpumalanga vary from excellent to good, with 4 systems that need attention, as indicated in the Provincial Performance Log. The overall business of drinking water supply and quality management is satisfactory, however areas of concern are raised where improvement is required. Mpumalanga is taking a position amongst the lower performing provinces in the country.

Eight Blue Drop Certificates are awarded in Mpumalanga:



2 Blue Drops 6 Blue Drops

::
Mbombela Local Municipality / Silulumanzi Steve Tswete Local Municipality / ESKOM

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Regulatory Impression:

Water Services Authority:

Water Services Providers:

Albert Luthuli Local Municipality Albert Luthuli Local Municipality

The 2011 Blue Drop score of Albert Luthuli Local Municipality showed minimal improvement from the previous assessment. The Department however acknowledges the commencement of the water safety planning process. The commitment from the technical team is noted, even though the team currently faces a challenge with regards to staff turn-over. The current team was found to work under challenging conditions.
Municipal Blue Drop Score 2011:

09.78%

Lushushwane / Bettysgoed

Performance Area

Carolina

Badplass

Mpuluzi

Although the Municipality appointed a service provider to assist in turning around the current appalling situation, DWA requires Albert Luthuli to immediately improve Drinking Water Quality (DWQ) management with intensive effort, all Blue Drop Requirements needs to be addressed.

Water Safety Planning Process & Incident Response Management Process Control, Maintenance & Management Skills

49

23

49

23

49

23

49

23

Management support is needed for implementation of the water safety plan already noted being developed, funds must be available to improve DWQ service delivery. While the municipality and service provider attempts to improve the situation, information should be submitted on the Blue Drop System to allow DWA to monitor the situation (as required in Section 82 of the Water Services Act, No 108 of 1997). Conservatively, the Department assumes that all water within the jurisdiction of the municipality poses a risk of infection.

Monitoring Programme

050000

0 0

050000

0 0

050000

0 0

050000

0 0

Credibility of Sample Analyses Submission of Results Drinking Water Quality Compliance Performance Publication Asset Management

Bonus Scores

NB: The Regulator is extremely concerned with the performance of drinking water quality management by Albert Luthuli. The WSA is requested to submit a Corrective Action Plan to the Department within 30 days of release of the Blue Drop Report.

Penalties

Blue Drop Score (2011)

Blue Drop Score (2010)

09.78% (↑) 09.78% (→) 09.78% (→) 09.78% (→)

05.13%

08.96%

08.63%

System Design Supply Capacity (Ml/d) System Operational Capacity Population Served by System Ave. Daily Consumption per Capita (l) Microbiological Compliance (12 months) Chemical Compliance (12 months)

6
60%

13 632

4

8.5

NI

44 983

4

Findings

NI

10 600

-
NI

1 106

-

1.

According to the BDS, only two systems are registered. This does not allow DWA to

adequately evaluate all seven system presented for evaluation. DWQ data has to be submitted per supply system, monitoring should occur as often as stipulated in SANS 241 (South African standard for Drinking Water) and informed by the risk assessment. This must be rectified as soon as possible.

264

-

56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)
56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)
56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)
56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)

Performance Area

Elukwatini

Metula Fernie

Ekulindeni

2.

It is evident that there is a decline in the Microbial DWQ management practices of the

municipality (i.e. disinfection), the inconsistent sampling practice is furthermore disconcerting since a false impression of safe water could be portrayed against the limited data.

49

23

49

23

49

23

050000

0 0

050000

0 0

050000

0 0

3. 4.
Compared with the results in 2010 for 11 months, the 7 months of microbiological and 6 months chemical data confirms that all water poses a serious risk to public health.

Credibility of Sample Analyses Submission of Results Drinking Water Quality Compliance Performance Publication

Other areas that requires urgent attention by the Municipality are:



Process Control, Maintenance & Management Skills Monitoring Programme Credibility of Sample Analyses Performance Publication

Asset Management

Bonus Scores Penalties

Blue Drop Score (2010)

09.78% (→)

Asset Management

08.63%

System Design Supply Capacity (Ml/d) System Operational Capacity Population Served by System

13 NI

65 654

7

5

66%

10 885

NI

31 056

Ave. Daily Consumption per Capita (l) Microbiological Compliance (12 months) Chemical Compliance (12 months)

-

322

56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)
56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)
56.00% (7 months) 95.00% (6 months)

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Regulatory Impression:

Water Services Authority:

Water Services Providers:

Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Bushbuckridge Local Municipality

Regrettably, despite numerous communiqué between the WSA and the Blue Drop Inspectors in an attempt to finalise the virtual assessment against data / information loaded on the Blue Drop System (BDS), no data was uploaded on the BDS at the confirmation assessment. The situation in Bushbuckridge LM is considered critical from a regulatory view and holds high risk to public health.
Municipal Blue Drop Score 2011:

29.89%

Performance Area

Dingledale

Sigagule

Thorndale

The 29.89% overall municipal score confirms that drinking water quality management services are still not managed according to the expectations of the regulation programme. The only positive the Department can highlight is the commencement of the water safety planning process.

05

0

The Municipality has to prioritise development and implementation of the water safety plan, it is imperative to conduct risk assessments for the entire area that covers the catchment, treatment systems and distribution. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined, while management shows support by availing budget. Service level agreements should be in place and endorsed should any Water Services Providers assist the Authority.

10

26

50

0

73

00

0
0.3

34

50 50 73

00

0
0.3

25

50 10 50

00

0
0.6

Credibility of Sample Analyses Submission of Results Drinking Water Quality Compliance Performance Publication

The municipality is commended for ensuring that DWQ data on both the chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water in all the supply systems are available on the BDS. The Regulator is encouraged that the municipality adhered to the request during the 2010 assessment to submit data. The municipality is now encouraged to improve on all other aspects of the DWQ management business.

Asset Management

Bonus Scores Penalties

Blue Drop Score (2010) System Design Supply Capacity (Ml/d) System Operational Capacity Population Served by System Ave. Daily Consumption per Capita (l) Microbiological Compliance (12 months) Chemical Compliance (12 months)

27.48% (↑)

31.32% (→)

25.00% (→)

08.50%

NA

2
NA 2d

NB:

The regulator is extremely concerned with the DWQ management performance of

1.5 NI

Bushbuckridge. The WSA should submit a Corrective Action Plan to the Department within 30 days of release of the Blue Drop Report detailing plans to improve the situation.

NI

2 354

-
NI

3 012

-

2 262

-

100.00% (7 months) 100.00% ( 7 months)

Findings

100.00% (11 months) 100.00% (11 months)

100.00%

88.89% (8 months)

1. 2.
During the 2010 Blue Drop assessment, the WSA presented 10 systems for assessment. This year, Bushbuckridge registered 6 systems. The WSA is advised to ensure that the amalgamation of systems results in a more focussed DWQ management approach, the WSA should also confirm that the entire area under jurisdiction is included under the 6 supply systems.

Performance Area

Zoeknog

Marite

Cork

0

The following areas require urgent attention by the Municipality, it must be included in the action plan submitted to the Department:

10